Face of the Country, Soil and
Geological Features

The natural features peculiar to
Wisconsin, is the uniformity of its elevation, and shape of its
surface, which is neither mountainous, hilly or flat, but gently
undulating. The country west of Sugar river and south of the
Wisconsin, is somewhat broken, principally by the dividing ridge
upon which the road from Madison to Prairie du Chien passes. In
this section, known as the Mines, are several peculiar
elevations called Mounds. West of the Wisconsin River, are a
range of high hills, being the only elevations in the State,
either deserving or assuming the dignity of mountains. The
southeastern portion of the State is marked by ravines at the
streams but little depressed below the surrounding level. Its
prominent features are the Prairie, destitute of tree or shrub,
covered only by a luxuriant growth of grass, interspersed with
flowers of every hue; the Oak Opening; the Lake; the woodland,
on the border of streams, and the natural meadow. Proceeding
north, to the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, and Green Bay, the
timber increases, and the soil gradually changes from the
vegetable mold of the prairie to a sandy loam. The surface also
becomes somewhat depressed and uneven, diversified with timber,
rolling prairie, large marshes and extensive swamps, having an
abundant growth of cranberries and wild rice. Still north, and
west, the surface becomes more uneven, and the streams rapid,
affording an abundance of water power for the manufacture of
lumber from the immense forests of evergreen, scarcely surpassed
on the western continent.

The soil of the prairie consists of a
dark brown vegetable mold, from one to two feet in depth, very
mellow, and entirely destitute of stone or gravel, and for
fertility and agricultural properties, cannot be surpassed. The
sub-soil is a clayish loam, similar to the soil of the timbered
lands, and is also suitable for cultivation. The soil of the
timbered land is less rich than the prairie, not so deep, and
contains less carbonate of lime, which enters into the
composition of the latter in the proportion of from 20 to 40 per
cent. The mining region, unlike that of any other mineral
district, promises a liberal reward, as well to the farmer as to
the miner. The soil of the evergreen district is mostly sandy,
and not so rich as in other portions of the State. It is
nevertheless, well adapted to agriculture and grazing.

The prairies of Wisconsin are not so
extensive as those of other states, and are so skirted and
belted by timber, that they are well adapted to immediate and
profitable occupation.

The openings, which comprise a large
portion of the finest land of the State, owe their present
condition to the action of the annual fires which have kept
under all other forest growth, except those varieties of oak
which can withstand the sweep of that element.

This annual burning of an exuberant
growth of grasses and of under-brush, has been adding, perhaps
for ages, to the productive power of the soil, and preparing it
for the plough-share.

It is the great fact, nature has thus
"cleared up" Wisconsin to the hand of the settler, and enriched
it by yearly burnings, and has at the same time left sufficient
timber on the ground for fence and firewood, that explains, in a
great measure, the capacity it has exhibited, and is now
exhibiting for rapid settlement and early maturity.

There is another fact important to be
noticed in this connection. The low level prairie, or natural
meadow, of moderate extent, is so generally distributed over the
face of the country, that the settler on a fine section of
arable land, finds on his own farm, or in his immediate
neighborhood, abundant pasturage for his stock in summer, on the
open range; and hay for the winter, for the cutting, the bounty
of Nature supplying his need in this behalf, till the cultivated
grasses may be introduced and become sufficient for his use.

The limestone, underlying the coal
fields of Illinois, forms the immediate basis of the allusion of
Southern Wisconsin. This geological district, in addition to
that portion of the State which lies southerly of the valley of
the Wisconsin River, comprises the whole of the slope towards
Lake Michigan.

In many portions of this district, the
lime rock disappears, and the out-cropping sand stone furnishes
a fine material for building.

The lead bearing rock of the mineral
region, is a porous lime stone, prevailing throughout Grant,
Lafayette and Iowa Counties, comprising four-fifths of the "Lead
District" of the upper Mississippi; the remaining one-fifth
being in the States of Illinois and Iowa.

Deposits of iron ore, water lime stone,
and beds of gypsum, together with other varieties of minerals,
are found in localities more or less numerous, throughout the
lime stone region.

All of that section of the State, which
lies between Lake Superior on the North, and the falls of St.
Anthony on the Mississippi, and the falls of the other rivers
flowing southerly, is primitive in its prevailing geological
character; and it is within this primitive region, that the
copper mines of Lake Superior are found, probably the richest in
the world, and apparently inexhaustible.

In all that portion of the State, lying
between the primitive region just described, and the lime stone
formation of the South and East, the transition sand stone
prevails; interspersed with lime stone, and more sparsely, with
rock of a primitive character. This formation comprises that
section of the country drained by the Wisconsin and other rivers
tributary to the upper Mississippi, and below the falls of those
streams. "Within this Geological District, are found quarries of
white marble, which promise to be abundant and valuable.